Philly folk collective Tutlie took over World Cafe Live back on Tuesday for NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concert Showcase, and this week they’ve shared a live video of themselves performing a new song, “Little Cannon,” at Everybody Hits back in December.

The video, shot by Bob Sweeney, captures the band playing “Little Cannon” for the first time ever live. The song combines heavy hitting drums and horns with the melodic vocals of dual lead singers Jessie Radlow and Rebecca Katz. Continue reading →

Meddlesome Meddlesome Meddlesome Bells open the show at Johnny Brenda’s tonight. The local blues-inspired / psych-rock band stopped by for a Key Studio Session this week, recording some new material that will hopefully appear on a follow-up to last year’s self-titled LP. Stay tuned for that session, and in the meantime check out “On the Way to Neptune” below. Tickets and information for the 21+ show can be found here.

Maitland | Photo by John VetteseMaitland is singer, songwriter and guitarist Josh Hines. Originally from Williamsport, PA, Hines now calls Philly home. Maitland plays atmospheric indie folk rock; Bon Iver, Jose Gonzales, and Elliot Smith are a few familiar touchpoints. The band has released two EP’s, (from a cabin in the woods), and Take My Sins, both released in 2012. In the last year, the band has been recording new music, playing live and winning over a lot of new fans. Continue reading →

Central PA’s Maitland is a band, but it is also Josh Hines – a cheerful guy with long blond hair, an outgoing demeanor, an acoustic guitar and a knockout voice. Since debuting in 2012, Hines has fluctuated between being a solo performer and working with a band. When he’s in the group setting, they do the dramatic atmospheric slow burn thing; alone, Hines pares it back to Elliot Smith style simplicity and intimacy. That’s the version of Maitland we got when the barefooted troubadour visited XPN studios this past weekend to roll out four songs that, as yet, are unreleased, but if you’ve seen the band live in the past year or so, chances are they’re familiar.

“Mothers Touch” undeniably recalls I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning-era Bright Eyes (and, of course, the older stuff that album referenced: the SoHo folk scene of the 1950s); “Luna” is dreamy, mysterious and Jeff Buckley-ish, “Glimpse” strikes a resonant Iron and Wine chord and “Cup of Love” is a fervent strummer. It’s music that, in this most minimal of arrangements, sounds complete, but at the same time you’ll hear how Maitland the band might build on this foundation – Hines’ percussive playing can hint at larger arrangements if you let it. When it stops by MilkBoy on July 11th, you’ll be able to see in person how the group of players might embellish these songs – though, given their potency, I’m hoping for a solo Hines moment or two.

We’re used to PA natives Maitland providing us with chillingly ethereal and beautiful tracks, but there’s something about the raw power of an acoustic session that manages to delve even deeper into the soul. Josh Hines of Maitland performed a stripped down version of a new track, “Luna”, for the latest FeedbackLoop session, and the track is soft and poignant as ever. The band also states that they’ve recently “graduated from a two-piece to a full band.” The track was recorded at Kawari Sound Studios, and you can get the full band version of the track as well as other indie jams with a subscription to FeedbackLoop – a Philly-based digital music discovery service that celebrates its first year and 21st session with Maitland’s episode. Croon with Hines via the video below.

Radiator Hospital | via FacebookYear End Mania is the Key’s survey of the things below the surface that made 2013 awesome. In this installment, photographer Melody Chiang shares the best of who’s new to town.

When I first moved to Philadelphia four years ago, alot of people questioned my sanity for electing to leave California. In the beginning, I stayed almost exclusively inside the comfortable, familiar bubble of University City. But with help from some friends, locals, and of course the XPN crew, I began to spend more time exploring other parts of the city and getting to know Philly’s amazing, rollicking music scene a little. Now as I head into my final semester of college that will quickly be followed by another period of terrifying transition, I’ve discovered that I’ve kind of fallen in love with this vibrant, unapologetically spirited, sometimes disconcerting, one of a kind place. And I hope I get to stick around here longer.

So, for my 2013 year end list I wanted to compile my favorite recently local acts who, like me, all hail from elsewhere but have come to call Philadelphia home. Here are my top five Philly transplants of 2013:

5. MaitlandMaitland originally hail from Williamsport, PA. Josh Hines and Jeff Mach play gorgeous atmospheric folk songs that have oft elicited comparisons to Bon Iver and Jose Gonzales. Their EP (from a cabin in the woods), which was technically released last fall in 2012, is sonically minimalistic but chock full of natural imagery and nostalgic snapshots in time.

Chicago indie rockers Their/They’re/There will play at First Unitarian Church tonight. The band is a collaboration of Evan Weiss from Into It. Over It., Mike Kinsella from Cap’n Jazz and Matthew Frank from Loose Lips Sink Ships, and its tour comes in support of the band’s new EP Analog Weekend. Check out their new video for “New Blood” below, read more in Beth Ann Downey’s interview and get tickets here.

Indie rock singer-songwriter Kevin Devine plays Union Transfer tonight. Devine put out two new records last month on his own label, showing two distinct sides to himself – Bubblegum is an amped-up rock and roll collection, while Bulldozer comes from a singer-songwriter direction. Tickets and information can be found here. Watch the video for “Bubblegum” below.

About The Key

Philadelphia: Home to a rich musical history, a unique musical identity, and one of the nation's most thriving musical communities. In a scene filled with so many local bands worth listening to, there will always be new music to discover—and The Key is your source for finding it. Brought to you by WXPN—the non-commercial public radio station that World Cafe, XPN2, and XPoNential Music Festival call home—The Key covers all local music in Greater Philly and beyond.GET IN TOUCH

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About The Key

Philadelphia: Home to a rich musical history, a unique musical identity, and one of the nation's most thriving musical communities. In a scene filled with so many local bands worth listening to, there will always be new music to discover—and The Key is your source for finding it. Brought to you by WXPN—the non-commercial public radio station that World Cafe, XPN2, and XPoNential Music Festival call home—The Key covers all local music in Greater Philly and beyond.GET IN TOUCH